When you ask your grandmother a provocative question, you just might get a charming poem in reply. 🙂
“Sweet Baby Ducklings” by Allison Steele
WHAT IS THE POND DOING?
by Diana Hendry
(for Ruairidh, who asked)
Wobbling like a wobbly jelly
Being a bucket for the rain
Sending flash-backs to the sun
Cheeking the sky
Giving the moon a bath
Letting swans, ducks and winter leaves ride on its back
Licking the lollipop reeds
Pretending to be soup for the wind to stir
Growing stinky skunk cabbages
Drawing wheels and circles then rubbing them out
Plopping slopping slurping spinning
Turning the weeping willows happily upside down
Dreaming of running away to sea
Hiding under a starry blanket of dark
What is the pond doing?
Ponding. Responding.
“A unicorn is just a horse with a point of view.” ~ Ron Sexsmith
Ready for a feel good poem?
Just press E-4 on your table top jukebox for yet another witty wonder by Pennsylvania-based poet Edwin Romond. While you’re reading, I’ll polish off my bran muffin.
What will you be when you grow up — and will your job match your name?
“Three Men in a Tub” by Tim Egan
HAPPY FAMILIES
by Lindsay MacRae
Mr Pill the pharmacist
Mrs Bunn the baker
Master Leak the plumber’s mate
B. Grave the undertaker.
Mr Blast, who in the past
once mended broken hooters
Mr Spider – web designer
Miss Take – in computers.
Ena Hurry makes strung curry
Old MacDonald farms
Mr Cue is in the theatre
Bill Ithole sells arms.
Master Void is unemployed
Reg Card – a referee
When I grow up, I worry what
my name suggests I’ll be.
What kind of job might go with Robb?
I bet you think you know it.
But I’d rather rhyme than turn to crime
So perhaps I’ll be a poet.
~ from How to Avoid Kissing Your Parents in Public (Puffin, 2000)
THE SOUND COLLECTOR
by Roger McGough
A stranger called this morning
Dressed all in black and grey
Put every sound into a bag
And carried them away
The whistling of the kettle
The turning of the lock
The purring of the kitten
The ticking of the clock
The popping of the toaster
The crunching of the flakes
When you spread the marmalade
The scraping noise it makes
The hissing of the frying pan
The ticking of the grill
The bubbling of the bathtub
As it starts to fill
The drumming of the raindrops
On the windowpane
When you do the washing-up
The gurgle of the drain
The crying of the baby
The squeaking of the chair
The swishing of the curtain
The creaking of the stair
A stranger called this morning
He didn't leave his name
Left us only silence
Life will never be the same
~ from Pillow Talk: A Book of Poems (Puffin Books, 1992)
Abby, the young narrator of this charming picture book by Linda Ashman and Alea Marley, is excited to host the amazing Phoebe Dupree, who just happens to be absolutely perfect in every way.
Phoebe is speedy. Phoebe is smart.
She’s equally brilliant at science and art.
This puts more than a little pressure on Abby. After all, nothing less than a picture perfect tea for a positively perfect friend will do.
She knocks herself out baking delicious treats, spiffing up her dog Louie (even briefing him on proper behavior), and then laying a beautiful table with lovely flowers and polka dot china. Everything’s all set!
Abby and Louie happily greet Phoebe, who takes her seat next to a doll and two bears. But when Abby tries to bring in the treats, she struggles with the heavy tray. It starts to slip, then bobbles and wobbles – then Abby stumbles and trips. Oh no!